Samson was the biblical character famous for his great strength. I believe He was a type of Christ, who was born with the express purpose of bringing destruction to the enemy. Throughout Sampson’s life, we see how a great spiritual battle was being fought over his destiny. He was constantly under attack, whether from the Philistine army or through the more subtle means of temptation.
In Judges 16:20-21 we read “Then she (Delilah) called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding in the prison, but the enemy failed to realize that the hair on his head, which held his strength, began to grow again (they had shaved it all off).”
This was the low point of Samson’s life. He had succumbed to temptation, given up the secret of his strength to the enemy, and was ultimately rendered helpless and harmless by those he was called to destroy. A terrible defeat! Many of us, in our Christian lives, struggle in this same battle. Whether you like it or not, when you’re born again into the Kingdom of God, you’re born into a war! You’re born to be an agent of God’s destruction of the enemy.
Before I became a Christian, I was a peace loving, new age, success principled, agnostic type person. Life was good for me. When I became a Christian, while I was astounded and amazed by the love, majesty, and beauty of God, I quickly learned that now I was a child of God, the enemy didn’t like me. I was part of the Kingdom of God, I was in a spiritual battle against the kingdom of darkness.
Sampson had failed God, he had succumbed to the lust of the flesh and it seemed like the enemy had won, but the Scripture says even in the prison, as he was grinding away; blinded, hopeless and helpless, his hair began to grow back. Sampson’s hair represented his strength, his anointing, and his ability to destroy the enemy. Samson was going through a process of purification and refining, in that prison, as he was also being renewed and restored.
I’m telling you, even if you feel like you’ve failed God, He has the ability to restore and redeem your life and use you for His purposes. This was the grace of God at work and in operation in Sampson’s life! Finally, the enemy said, ‘lets have some fun with Sampson and further humiliate him. Let’s bring him out and display our trophy of victory’. The enemy loves to gloat when we experience defeat.
But even in this place of shame, verse 28 tells us he prayed a heartfelt prayer, “O Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me, with one blow, get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” Now Sampson’s strength was the supernatural empowerment of God to destroy the works of the enemy; and when he prayed, this strength flowed with such force that he was able to break down the two central pillars supporting the entire temple.
In Sampson’s weakest moment, he experienced the greatest victory of his entire life. More Philistines were killed in this final act than during the time he had lived. I want to encourage you today, no matter what you have done, no matter how badly you have been beaten up by the enemy, no matter how hopeless you feel, it’s never too late for God to use you for His purposes. God wants to use you to bring great destruction to the enemy.
All of Sampson’s life and even His death point to Christ who in His death, brought total complete and destruction to the enemy. He paid the price to give us the same power that conquered death, hell and all the forces of darkness. Luke 10:19 tells us “”Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you.” As believers it is our faith in Christ’s finished work which gives us power to enforce the enemy’s defeat.
Sometimes it looks like the enemy has won, and he is gloating over his victory in your life, but I want to encourage you, don’t discount what God can do for you. It’s never too late for God to do a miracle in and through your life! Today, I am believing the Spirit of God will rise up on the inside of you like a fire, consuming everything the enemy has done to bring destruction to your life. I am believing God will strengthen you again to stand and believe for great victory over the enemy. You may be feeling tired and hopeless I pray God will strengthen you once more!
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